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Renditionz photo, guitar studio becomes North Bend teen outlet

Offering photography and guitar lessons, David and Aimee Reutercrona opened Renditionz Studios in North Bend last December. Their studio is now a resource for teens.

— image credit: Allison Espiritu / Snoqualmie Valley Record

David and Aimee Reutercrona moved from Seattle to North Bend six years ago to live out a dream and explore their passions in music and photography.

In the back of their minds, the two had dreamed of one day owning their own guitar and fine art photography studios, but never fathomed doing it together.

It took until 2009 for the couple to discover a rental space in downtown North Bend that allowed their talents to merge.

David convinced Aimee that, to reach success, they needed to offer more than just photography. The two decided that if they opened their own business, they would offer both passions, guitar lessons and recording services as well as art.

“You can’t expect to do one thing and have success,” David said. “So we said, ‘Let’s do something.’”

Last December, the Reutercronas opened Renditionz Music & Photography Studio at 137 East North Bend Way. The studio offers photography, guitar and vocal lessons, guitar repair, a full service recording studio, plus fine art prints, pet portraits, restoration, editing and archiving.

More than a studio

Fifteen guitar and photography students later, Renditionz has become more than just a lesson and repair shop. David describes it as a place for teens to find direction and feel centered.

“My kids hated that we moved here, because there was nothing to do,” he said.

Noticing a big group of students hanging out in the nearby QFC parking lot, David realized that the teens probably felt the same way as his children did.

“There’s nothing else to do,” he said. “So I said I was going to do something and get these kids to come in.”

He figures his welcome and attention has turned around potentially troubled lives.

“Now they come here because they think it’s a great place,” David said.

A new challenge is the slow economy. Understanding that local people aren’t to blame for not spending money, David would like to keep his business afloat while working with the community to fund lessons for children who can’t necessarily afford them.

“I see a lot of money going to things that are less useful,” David said. “Help the businesses out.”

To boost their business and its presence in the community, the Reutercronas recently began an open microphone night on Thursdays, giving the studio a coffee house ambiance. They serve coffee and tea, letting locals perform on stage.

“It’s been successful,” David said. “We get about 20 to 30 people in here. The idea is for people here to realize we do all these other things.”

The studio stage attracts even more local youth who come out for the night.

“I mainly did it for me, to do what I wanted to do,” Davis said. “But now, it’s to help kids have something to do.”

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